Quotes by Ken Livingstone

About Ken Livingstone:

Kenneth Robert Livingstone is an English politician who has twice held the leading political role in London regional government. He served as the Leader of the Greater London Council (GLC) from 1981 until the Council was abolished in 1986, and then as the first elected Mayor of London from the creation of the office in 2000 until 2008. He also served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Brent East from 1987 to 2001. A member of the Labour Party, he was situated on the party's hard left, ideologically identifying as a democratic socialist.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

I actually think the civil service, who are the malignancy at the heart of public life, have consciously prevented, talked ministers out of, made it difficult regulatory-wise, to allow more pressure on alternative energy sources to grow.

Ken Livingstone

I never came into life with any favours or privileges.

Ken Livingstone

I have only ever borrowed money for investment. I have been sound money all my life.

Ken Livingstone

I've always told the truth. I've often been wrong - but I've never knowingly lied. Not in public life. Because I don't see the need to.

Ken Livingstone

There isn't much about my life that's been particularly conventional.

Ken Livingstone

I can't understand why anyone would want to live the life of a politician if you can't say pretty much what you think. You are not in it for the money: there's unremitting pressure on your life, you give up so much of your privacy. It can only be bec...

Ken Livingstone

I was a weedy kid, not like one of those working-class men who can accommodate not being academically clever by physical strength and prowess.

Ken Livingstone

Everyone changes all the time.

Ken Livingstone

When I was leader of the GLC, by the time I had been in control for three years, the difference in pay between the cleaner and the director general was a four-to-one ratio. I find that attractive.

Ken Livingstone

I mean I get loads of money, all from different sources. You give it to your accountant. They manage it. But you pay corporation tax. If you're then taking it out and spending it on yourself, you have to pay more.

Ken Livingstone

I employed my wife for three years to sit in the attic and type up my autobiography, 700 pages, organise everywhere I go. I'm paying the normal rate of tax on the money I take out for myself.

Ken Livingstone

I've got people handling the media. I employ at the moment two people. No-one is paying income tax on the money they use to employ people.

Ken Livingstone

You lose power in Britain and you are just Joe Public again.

Ken Livingstone

I do explicitly see Jewish people as a people - not either a religion or an ethnicity but a people.

Ken Livingstone

I undertake that, in the exercise of my functions of that office I will have regard to any guidance with respect to ethical standards issued by the secretary of state under Section 66 of the Greater London Authority Act 1999.

Ken Livingstone

All the politics of the post-war period was about the clash between the Soviet Union and America, and virtually all issues ended up being subordinated to that. Now, the question is, what is the most a socialist can achieve in a global economy?

Ken Livingstone

Politics is not a healthy lifestyle.

Ken Livingstone

I became a councillor back in 1971, so if by this stage in politics I'm making lots of big mistakes, then I shouldn't be here.

Ken Livingstone

I loathe and detest all this trivialisation of politics.

Ken Livingstone

Short of being prime minister there isn't a better job in British politics than running London.

Ken Livingstone

Most kids don't get to go their parents' wedding.

Ken Livingstone

Author Bio

  • NameKen Livingstone
  • DescriptionMayor of London between 2000-2008
  • AliasesKenneth Robert Livingstone
  • BornJune 17, 1945
  • CountryUnited Kingdom
  • ProfessionPolitician